Prosecutors had alleged Antico, 75, planned the robbery of jewelry and cash from Antonelli, 43. In an apparent botched heist, the jeweler was gunned down as he left El Sabor Tropical restaurant on April 29, 2008.

Authorities charged the stickup was ordered because Antonelli owed the mob money.

Antonelli was ambushed by Charles Santiago and Joseph Gencarelli, both 27-year-old Grant City residents.

Santiago twice shot Antonelli in the chest, before he and Gencarelli fled empty-handed.

"He's glad the Antonelli family will finally know that he had nothing to
do with it," attorney Mathew Mari told the New York Post.

The news wasn't all good for Antico, however.

He was convicted on two counts of RICO conspiracy for running an illegal gambling parlor on Sand Lane on Staten Island, and planning to conspiring to rob the $1 million winner of a horse racing bet.

He faces the maximum of 20 years behind bars on the RICO conspiracy conviction.